GRC celebrates seven-year anniversary

IT WAS seven years since the first Gladstone Regional Council came into being following the amalgamation of three former Local Government areas, on Sunday March 15.

The amalgamation of the former Gladstone City and Calliope and Miriam Vale regional councils came ahead of a period of great change within the region, a fact upon which Councillor Maxine Brushe reflected upon in a report to Council at yesterday's general meeting.

"Like any anniversary celebration, we reflect on where we have come from and what has been achieved," Cr Brushe said.

"All too often, we hear only negatives that ignore the many good things that have happened to improve our lifestyle in this great region.

"The region now has a population approaching 64,000 residents, has survived and benefitted from a massive $100 billion investment involving the construction of three LNG plants, the harbour dredging project, construction of Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal, huge rail and road infrastructure projects and a large fly-in fly-out workforce that is now being pared back."

Cr Brushe said Council had delivered on a large amount of major community infrastructure during its seven years in existence, providing a long list of projects she said had significantly improved the Gladstone Region.

Cr Brushe provided a long list of projects completed since March 2008, including the airport and Gladstone Entertainment redevelopments, Agnes Water Integrated Water Strategy, Callemondah Drive Overpass, Curtis Island water and sewerage services, Kirkwood Road, and Seventeen Seventy Foreshore Development projects.

Also included on the list were a number of park redevelopments and recreational amenities developments with Cr Brushe also referring to ongoing or planned projects due for completion in the near future.

"Considering the first term of this new Council had to deal with the enormous challenges of amalgamating three local governments and an airport board, manage massive industrial development and then deal with three major flood events, I am proud of what has been achieved.

"I believe our communities, residents and Council staff should also be proud of the collective growth of the regional community, including its facilities and services."